Hypocrisy: The Right Time To Be Two-Faced

can you handle a fight?

Okay, so you still think that honesty is the best route to take (how noble of you). But keep in mind that speaking your mind may escalate into a fight (after all, not many would take the news that they're annoying sitting down) and aside from all the external turmoil, it can also have negative effects on you from the inside.

The bottom line is that you may possess certain traits that make opening up a lot harder on you than you think.

The first, and most obvious one, is the stress factor. Some of us are not emotionally or mentally capable of having nasty confrontations. Aside from the outer turmoil, there are also internal consequences, as the stress may leave you tense during the day, and no longer able to sleep at night. And that, for some people, may be the best-case scenario.

And since things can heat up, you may want to think twice before immersing yourself in the tension and awkwardness that will surely follow.

Also, think about the repercussions of telling your friend that his girlfriend is annoying. The odds of him dumping her over your dismay are slim to none. The only thing you'll accomplish by expressing yourself is create even more tension between the three of you and possibly even severing the bond you and your friend have.

there are some nasty ones

This is also a good time to bring up those select few who can't take well-intentioned criticism very well; telling them their new haircut is slightly unflattering may give you more than you bargained for. General rule of thumb: be honest with those you know well, tell everyone else they look great, no matter what.

Lastly, there are those who are simply afraid of bad publicity. This fear is justified, since the person you open up to may retaliate and embark on a mission to tarnish your reputation (and yes, there are people like this). Some of the stunts they can pull include speaking ill of you to other friends or co-workers (e.g. starting nasty rumors) or getting others to take their side instead of yours.

In the end, all you'll get is a nasty smear campaign that you're left trying to re-establish. So I ask you again: is it really worth it?